Petiole Anatomy and Minor Veins as Aids for the Identification of Symplocos of Nepal

On a study of eleven species of Symplocos occurring in Nepal, it is observed that petiole anatomy and minor venation pattern are helpful for identifying sterile material. Two species, S. pyrifolia and S. sumantia have exactly similar characters but can be distinguished from the other nine species. Sclerenchymatous bundle sheaths are known in a few dicotyledonous families like Winteraceae and Melastomataceae, and in a few genera of Dilleniaceae. It is significant that such sclerenchymatous bundle sheaths are also found in some species of Symplocos. It is felt that extensive survey of all the species of Symplocos would prove to be very interesting.